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Experts gather to define research and innovation priorities for the future of Europe’s Hydropower industry

On 25th March 2020, HYDROPOWER EUROPE invited experts from the hydropower industry to participate in the Second Expert Panel Consultation to help define a common Research and Innovation Agenda and Strategic Industry Roadmap.

Nearly 40 experts joined an online workshop from home offices across Europe providing valuable input on evaluation of the first drafts of the Research and Innovation Agenda (R&IA) and Strategic Industry Roadmap (SIR). Prior to the online workshop, the experts had access to the draft documents and were invited to provide their written comments.

The goal of the R&IA is to provide recommendations on the R&I priorities for hydro to the EU institutions and national authorities, in order to contribute towards shaping public spending for R&I. The document will also provide a useful reference to the entire hydropower community.

The goal of the SIR is to understand why communities, i.e. stakeholders, accept/reject hydropower projects, to promote the best and innovative practices in hydropower development and to formulate recommendations (both to public authorities and private stakeholders) as to how hydropower can contribute to the successful energy system transition, preserve the environment and increase societal resilience. The SIR recognizes the overarching societal needs and trends, reflected or based on strategic European energy policy & ambition.

Due to a current outbreak of COVID 19, the initial plan to organize a 2-day face to face workshop in Brussels was cancelled. Thus, HYDROPOWER EUROPE management decided to arrange an online session instead, inviting the experts to contribute to the discussions from their home offices.

The aim of the Horizon2020 project, HYDROPOWER EUROPE, is to provide a focal point for reviewing and developing hydropower in Europe, and subsequently European hydropower in the wider world.

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The event provided an overview of ongoing initiatives and projects on (small) hydropower to address both domestic and world market developments. The the event was to show a wide audience the developments happening in the hydropower industry in Southeastern Europe, to cultivate old contacts and establish new ones. Speakers from various countries showcased the best practice examples, their latest innovations and challenges.

ITCOLD, the Italian Committee on Large Dams, set up a Working Group to assess how dam owners’ actions addressed to the sustainable host territories development are perceived by the other stakeholders present in the same territory. The main aim of the ITCOLD activity is to facilitate the dialogue and the intercommunication between two worlds that often have conflictual or even opposite interests.

During the opening session of the Hydro 2019 conference: Concept to closure: Practical steps in Porto, Portugal, 14 October 2019. Prof. Anton Schleiss and Jean-Jacques Fry were invited to present in a keynote address the latest results of the HYDROPOWER EUROPE project.

Prof. Anton Schleiss was invited as a keynote speaker at the 11th ICOLD European Club Symposium in Chania, Crete, 2-4 October 2019 which attracted about 200 participants. The keynote entitled ‘The importance of hydropower development for the energy transition in Europe’ was given on October 3

HYDROPOWER EUROPE partners participated in FIThydro Stakeholder Workshop on Fish-Friendly Hydropower organised in the context of FIThydro, a 4-year EU-funded H2020 research project (2016-2020). This project addresses the decision support in commissioning and operating hydropower plants by the use of existing and innovative technologies.

At the World Hydropower Congress 2019, HYDROPOWER EUROPE premiered its video, detailing its vision and the important role hydropower will play in the Energy Transition. HYDROPOWER EUROPE will provide a focal point for reviewing and developing hydropower in Europe - watch the video below to learn